Rod charging apparatus



Feb. 16, 1965 M. w. CLARK 3,169,642

ROD CHARGING APPARATUS Filed larch 1. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORMILTON W CLARK flw w, M ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1965 M. w. CLARK I 3,159,642

ROD CHARGING APPARATUS Filed March 1, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. lb V 3U 1 f T. -iiij INVENTOR MILTON W. CLARK BY ZMM M, M, 2M r7 4. ATTORNEYSFeb. 16, 1965 M. w. CLARK ROD CHARGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledMarch 1. 1961 x m snl. m mllpm m b MN m E." N9 m A S. m v ms wm m mm M-..7.5 VIII |QW|1H WMWW M w m- I E T L 5 8 no 2. E. f m 22% 9 6m .3 m oIFeb. 16, 1965 M. w. CLARK 3,169,642

ROD CHARGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1. 1961 FIG. 3

INVENTOR MILTON W. CLARK M MIMI r ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1965 M. w. CLARKROD CHARGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 1. 1961' FIG. 80

lNVENTOR MILTON W. CLARK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,169,642 RODCHARGING APPARATUS Milton W. Clark, Roclrvilie Centre, N.Y., assignor toThe Anaconda Company, a corporation of Montana Filed Mar. 1, 1961, Ser.No. 92,581 4 Claims. (Cl. 2l4-1) This invention relates to apparatus forcharging rod mills and, more particularly, to rod charging apparatuswherein a plurality of elongated carriers are mounted for longitudinaldisplacement one upon the other and are adapted to advance a rod on theendmost carrier into a mill and to deposit it therewithin.

Rod mills are employed for grinding particulate materials such as thecoarse sand which must be finely comminuted in ore processingoperations. A typical rod mill includes a large drum rotatably mountedat each end and filled to about one-third or more capacity with manylongitudinally disposed steel rods, each of which are few inches indiameter. The sand or other material to be ground is fed into the millthrough a relatively small axial opening at one end thereof and isfinely comminuted by the tumbling action of the rods as the drumrotates. Since the rods become worn by the abrasive action of the sandafter continued use, it is occasionally necessary to insert new rodsinto the mill through the open end of the drum, and it is for thispurpose that rod charging devices are used.

Since the rods are almost as long as the drum (perhaps to feet inlength), they are quite heavy and cannot be charged into the mill byhand Without great effort and inetficiency. One mechanical meansproposed heretofore has been to advance each rod longitudinally on abelt conveyor to the open end of the drum so that the rod tilts off theend of the conveyor and falls into the mill. However, the rod is notfully within the drum when it tilts from the conveyor and it is possiblethat the trailing end of the rod could strike the periphery of theopening and damage it. Moreover, if the rod is advanced into the millfast enough to be thrown clear of the rod charging opening, it is likelyto strike the opposite end of the mill with sufiicient force to damageit. Furthermore, every time charging is necessary the area in front ofthe mill must be cleared and the unwieldly charging apparatus rolledinto position in-line with the drum opening. Then, when charging iscompleted, the apparatus must be removed to keep the area clear forhandling the sand. 7

It is the major object of this invention to provide new rod rrn'llcharging apparatus which departs essentially from known designs andovercomes the disadvantages hitherto encountered in this dificultoperation. Relative compactness is a primary characteristic of the newcharging apparatus both in operation and while standing idle. ence, itdoes not interfere with the operation of the mill when not in use anddoes not require complete clearance of the area in front of the millduring charging. Since it is compact, the apparatus may easily bemounted on a wheeled carriage adapted to be rolled into aligned positionin front of any one of a series of rod mills arranged side-by-side in arow. Alternatively, the new charging apparatus may be permanentlypositioned in-line with a single mill. Furthermore, the apparatus of theinvention achieves rapid and efilcient charging without in any waydamaging the mill and particularly the drum opening. All of theseadvantages are provided in a mechanism which is structurally sturdy andeasily operable by only one man. I

In accordance with theinvention, the apparatus comprises a frame and anelongated carrier longitudinally displaceable on the frame. Drivingmeans are included ilfihfi i Patented Feb. 16, 19x65 for displacing thecarrier between retracted and extended positions. One end of the carrierprovides a rod-supporting section which is adapted to advance fully intothe mill upon displacement of the carrier to its extended position.Mounted on the rod-supporting section is a cradle for supporting atleast one rod substantially longitudinally thereon. Means are providedfor displacing the rod from the cradle when the rod-supporting sectionis substantially fully advanced.

More specifically, the new rod mill charging apparatus comprises atleast one intermediate carrier longitudinally displaceable on a firstcarrier. The rod-supporting carrier, in turn, is supported forlongitudinal displacement on the intermediate carrier. Transmissionmeans actuated by the above-mentioned driving means interconnects thecarriers to displace each of them between retracted and extendedpositions relative to the others. Hence, the rod-supporting carrieradvances in a telescopic fashion a cumulative distance equal to the sumof the relative displacements of it with respect to the intermediatecarrier, the intermediate carrier with respect to the first carrier, andthe first carrier with respect to the frame. The cradle on therod-supporting carrier may be pivotally mounted and associated with cammeans which cause it to pivot and displace the rod therefrom when therod-supporting carrier is fully within the mill.

Since the cumulative displacement of the rod-supporting carrier issufficient to advance it fully into the drum, the frame of the newcharging apparatus may be positioned a considerable distance away from(though in-line with) the axial opening of the mill and the area aroundthe mill is left clear for effective handling of the sand. In theirretracted positions, the carriers are arranged one above the other sothat they occupy a space no longer than the length of any one of them.Also, the carriers move toward the mill in the manner of a progressivelyextending cantilever so that they do not require complete clearance ofthe floor in front of the drum opening during charging. When the rodsupported in the cradle on the endmost carrier is advanced into thedrum, it is displaced therefrom to fall directly in place withoutstriking the drum opening.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. la is a fragmentaryplan view of the frame and a portion of the first and second carriers inextended position;

FIG. lb is a continuation, partly. broken away, of the plan view of FIG.1a and shows the rod-supporting carrier extended into the drum and inthe process of depositing a rod therewithin;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation taken from FIG. 1a and showing aportion of the first carrier in extended position;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary elevation continuing from FIG. 2 and showing aportion of the second and rodsupporting carriers;

FIG. 2b is a fragmentary elevation continuing from FIG. 2a and showingthe outermost end of the rod-supporting carrier;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. la;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. lb;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 55 of FIG. lbshowingthe rod being displaced from the cradle on the rod-supportingcarrier;

FIG. 6 is a section similar to that of FIG. 5' showing the cradlereturned to its normal position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section partly broken away andtaken along the line 77 of FIG. lb; and

FIGS. 8a and b are fragmentary sections taken along the line 3-8 of FIG.la and showing two positions of a feeding mechanism associated with therod rack.

The new charging apparatus is positioned in-line with an axial opening10 at one end of a drum 11 of a rod mill shown in dotted lines in FIG.1b. The rod mill is rotatably mounted at both ends (one of which isshown) on trunnions 12. Alongside the charging apparatus is a slightlyslopingrod rack 14, the end of which appears in FIGS. 3 and 4. Aplurality of heavy steel rods 15 are mounted thereon and when each ofthem rolls to the lower end of the sloping rack it drops a shortdistance onto the charging apparatus.

Feeding devices 16 and 16 are spaced apart on the lowermost end of therod rack 14 for successively releasing the rods supported thereby ontothe charging apparatus. Both feeding devices are actuated by an axiallypivotal shaft 17 spanning the rack 14. As shown most clearly in FIGS.1a, 3, 8a and 8b, each of the devices 16 and 16 includes a stop element18 afiixed to the shaft 17. Projections 19 and 19' are spaced apart atone end of the element 18. A stationary fulcrum bar 29 extending betweenthese projections is affixed at one end to the rack structure and at theother end to a bracket 21 (FIG. 1a). A finger element 22 is pivotallymounted to the stop element 18. By means of the shaft 17, each of thefeeding devices 16 and 16' is adapted to be moved between the twopositions shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b. In the first position shown in FIG.8a, the projection 19 on the stop element 18 extends above the plane ofthe rack to prevent the endmost rod 15 from rolling off the lower endthereof. When pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 8b, the projection19 on the stop element 18 lowers to release the endmost rod 15 andallows it to roll off the rack onto the charging apparatus. However, asthe endmost rod clears the projection 19, the finger element 22 isturned against the bar to project its outer end above the plane of therack in time to prevent the next rod from following the one justreleased. Upon returning to the FIG. 8a position, the projection 19again holds the endmost rod in place and the finger element 22 dropsbelow the plane of the rack 14.

To actuate the shaft 17, a link 23 (FIG. 3) is pivotally connected to anarm extending rigidly from the shaft 17. At the opposite end of the link23 is a bell-crank 24 pivotally mounted to one of the standards of therod rack 14. The lower end of the bell-crank 21 is pivotally connectedto one end of a manual actuating arm 25 which extends beneath the rodcharger to the operators side of the apparatus.

When the actuating arm 25 is in the solid-line position shown in FIGS. 3and 4, the supply of rods 15 on the rack 14 is held in place by theprojection 19 on the stop element 18. When the operator moves theactuator 25 to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3, the projection19 of the stop element moves downwardly to release the endrnostrod 15and the finger element 22 moves upwardly to hold the next rod. Movementof the actuator arm 25 back to the solid-line position causes the fingerelement 22 to drop and the projection 19 on the stop element 18 to rise.By these means, the operator can selectively release rods of variousdiameters one at a time onto the charging apparatus simply by pullingthe manual actuating arm 25 out and then pushing it in.

Mounted adjacent the lower end of the rod rack 14 in-line with theopening 10 in the rod mill is a frame 26 supporting a pair of relativelylarge horizontal channel members 27 and 28. These channel members arespaced apart and are parallel at a level beneath the axis of the rodmill opening 10. Along about the forward half of the upper edge of bothchannel members 27 and 28 nearest the rod mill are raised overheadrunning plates 29 and 29 respectively which provide roller tracks ontheir undersides. Also spaced apart along the entire upper edge of thechannel members 27 and 28 are a plurality of guide rollers 30 and 30'respectively each of which is mounted about a vertical axis. In thesections of FIGS. 3 and 4, the running plate 29 on the left is partlybroken away to make the roller 30 behind it visible. (This is also doneon all the running plates hereinafter described to the left of theapparatus center line in these sections.) Between the channel members 27and 28 are two longitudinal rows of supporting rollers 31 and 32 mountedabout horizontal axes.

Driving means are provided for the apparatus by a twodirectionalelectric motor 34 which is also mounted on the frame 26. A primary driveshaft 35 extends from the motor 34 through a cutout portion in thechannel member 27, and its outer end is supported by a pair of spacedbearings 36 and 37 between the channel members 27 and 28. A coupling 38is included in the shaft 35. Between the bearings 36 and 37 is a maindrive pinion 49 mounted about the shaft 35. Also disposed between thechannel members 27 and 28 is a first driving rack gear 41 affixed to theframe 26 and extending longitudinally within the apparatus slightlyabove the level of the rollers 31 and 32.

Longitudinally displacea-ble on the frame 26 is a first carrier made upof two opposed parallel horizontal channel members 42 and 43 and aplurality of interconnecting cross members 44. Along the lower edge ofthe channel members 42 and 43 are afiixed extended fiat wear strips 46and 47 respectively which are in rolling engagement with the rollers 31and 32 on the frame. Extending sidewardly from both the channel members42 and 43 of the first carrier are a plurality of rollers 48 and 48respectively whichextend beneath and are in rolling engagement with therespective running plates 29 and 29 and hold the first carrier down whenit is extended. Also, the channel members 42 and 43 are in rollingengagement with the lines of guide rollers 30 and 30' respectively topermit the first carrier from moving sidewardly. (The rollers 48 and 48,and similar rollers hereinafter to be described, do not interfere withthe associated rollers 30 and 30'.) By this construction, the firstcarrier (i.e., the channel members 42 and 43 With their cross members44) is supported on the various rollers of the frame for longitudinaldisplacement relative to the axis of the ap paratus.

Aflixed to the cross member 44 of the first carrier, is a first drivenrack gear 50 extending in a longitudinal direction. The rack gear 59 isin engagement with the main drive pinion 40 mounted on the drive shaft35. Thus, the two-directional drive motor 34 is adapted to advance andretract the first carrier toward and away from the rod mill by rotatingthe drive pinion 40 against the rack gear 50.

Extending between the parallel channel members 42 and 43 (as shown inFIG. la) is a rotatable shaft 52 which supports a pinion 54 inengagement with the stationary first driving rack gear 41. The shaft 52also carries a sprocket 55 which drives an endless chain 56. The chain56 runs over another sprocket 58 which is mounted about a shaft 59rotatably supported in journal bearings 60 and 61. These bearings areaflixed to supports 63 and 64 extending between two adjacent pairs ofthe cross members 44. Also mounted about the shaft 59 is a pinion 65.The first carrier has a longitudinally arranged second driving rack gear67 afiixed thereto and two longitudinal rows of supporting rollers 69and 70 mounted thereon about horizontal axes. Along the upper edges ofboth the channel members 42 and 43 are raised overhead running plates 71and 71' respectively and rows of guide rollers 72 and 72 respectively.Again, the running plates 71 and 71' extend throughout about the forwardhalf of the first carrier nearest the rod mill, whereas the rollers 72and 72' are spaced over its entire length.

Supported on the set of rollers 69, 70 and 72 is a second elongatedcarrier made up of parallel channel members 73 and 74 interconnected bycross members 75. Extended flat wear strips 76 and 77 are disposed alongthe lower edges of the channel members 73 and 74 respectively in rollingengagement with the rollers 69 and 71? on the first carrier. Sidewardlyextending rollers 79 and 79' respec tively on both the channel members73 and 74 are in rolling engagement with the respective running plates71 and 71. Both channel members 73 and 74 are also in rolling engagementwith the respective guide rollers 72 and 72. Thus, the second carrierelement is longitudinally displaceable with respect to the first carrierelement.

As seen in FIGS. 1b and 3, a second driven rack gear 81 extendslongitudinally mong the second carrier in engagement with the pinion 65mounted on the first drive shaft 59. Rotation of the pinion 65 is thusadapted to move the second carrier toward or away from the rod milldepending upon the direction taken by the main drive motor 34.

Referring to FIG. lb, a lateral shaft 83 is rotatably mounted betweenthe channel members 73 and 7 4 of the second carrier. thereon which isin engagement with the second driving rack gear 67 affixed to the firstcarrier. Also mounted about the shaft 33 is a sprocket 8d engaging achain 87 which extends to another sprocket 88 mounted about the shaft89. The shaft 89 extends between the channel members 73 and 74 and isrotatably supported at its opposite ends in journal bearings 91 and 92.A pinion 93 is also affixed to the shaft 89. Two longitudinal rows ofrollers 95 and 96 are mounted on the first carrier. Along the forwardhalf of both channel members 73 and 74 are running plates 98 and 98'respectively which provide tracks on their undersides. Also spaced alongthe entire length of the channel members 73 and 74 are guide rollers 99and 99' respectively.

A third or rod-supporting carrier, made up of two opposed channelmembers 161 and 102 interconnected by a plurality of cross members 1153,is supported on the rollera 95 and 96 of the second carrier. A thirddriven rack gear 194 is affixed longitudinally to the rod-supportingcarrier and is in engagement with the pinion 93 on the second carrier.Hence, rotation of the pinion 93 causes longitudinal displacement of therod-supporting carrier with respect to the second carrier. Sidewardlyextending rollers 1115 and 1115' on the channel members 101 and 102 arein rolling engagement with the running plates 98 and 98' on the secondcarrier. Also, both channel members 191 and 192 roll against therespective guide rollers 99 and 99' on the second carrier.

As shown in FIGS. 1b and 5 through 7, the rod-supporting carrier isprovided with a cradle formed by two cradle members 196 and 107. Sincethey are identical, their construction will be described with referenceonly to the cradle member 106. The cradle member 106 is pivotallymounted about a short shaft 109 extending parallel to the axis of theapparatus between supporting plates 110 and 111 afiixed to the channelmembers 101 and 102 of the rod-supporting carrier. In the normalrod-carrying position of the cradle 106 (as shown in FIG. 6), two arms113 and 114 extend upwardly therefrom to hold one of the rods (appearingin dotted lines) in position on the rod-supporting carrier. When thecradle member 1136 is displaced on its pivotal mounting, however, itassumes the position shown in FIG. 5 and the arm 113 rests on the upperedge of the channel member 101. The rod 15 then rolls in the directionof the arrow. A counter weight 115 is attached to the cradle member 1116to exert a turning force thereon normally urging it in acounterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Short lateralrails 116 and 117 extend rigidly from the rodsupporting carrier so thatwhen the rod rolls from the tilted cradle members it is carried over therails 116 and 117 and falls free of the rod-supporting carrier.

As shown particularly in FIG. 7, means are provided for automaticallydisplacing the cradle members 106 and 1117 when the rod-supportingcarrier reaches its extended The shaft 83 has a pinion 34 mountedposition. These include a cam 119 affixed to the second carrier. (Thecam 119 appears in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 7 and in dotted lines inFIG. 5.) Rotatably mounted on the rod-supporting carrier is a tripelement 121. The position of the cam 119 on the second carrier and thetrip element 121 on the rod-supporting carrier are such that the tripelement engages and rides up on the cam 119 when the rod-supportingcarrier is in its extended position relative to the second carrier.

As shown in FIG. 7, the trip element 121 rotates on a bracket 122mounted on a shaft 123 extending SllbSiEll": tially the length of therod-supporting carrier. The shaft 123 is linked to the cradle members1136 and 107 in the same manner at both its ends, thus only itsconnection with the cradle element 166 need be described. The end of theshaft adjacent the cradle member is supported in journal bearings 125and 126 in brackets which are mounted on the supoprting plates 11% and111 respectively. Connecting the end of the shaft 123 with the cradlemember 1% is a toggle mechanism made up of two cojoined links 128 and129, the former being keyed to the shaft 123. In the normal position ofthe cradle member 1% (shown in FIG. 6), the toggle is relativelystraight and the links 128 and 129 rest against a stop 131. The rod 15exerts a turning force on the cradle member 106 at all times tending torotate it in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 6. When the tripelement 121 rides up on the cam 119, however, the shaft 123 is ro-'tated (in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) andthe toggle mechanism passes over its deadcenter position. This permitsthe weight of the rod 15 to carry the links 128 and 129 through to theangular position shown in FIG. 5 and the rod proceeds to roll from thecradle member 166. Therefore, as the rod 15 rolls from the cradle, thetrip element 121 is displaced upwardly off the cam 119. However, whenthe rod 15 carries off the end of the arm 113, the counter weight causesthe cradle member 1% to turn back toward its normal position. Fullnormal position is returned to when the trip element 121 is displacedoff of the cam 119.

The operation of this new rod-charging apparatus is as follows:Initially, the first, second and rod-supporting carriers are in theirretracted position (as shown by the numerals 131, 132 and 133respectively in dotted lines in FIG. 2). One is substantially over theother alongside the rod rack 14 and in-line with but spaced considerablyfrom the opening 11) of the rod mill. By manual actuation of the arm 25,one of the rods 15 on the rod rack 14 is freed to roll off onto thecradle members 196 and 107 of the rod-supporting carrier.

The drive motor 34 is then actuated in a direction such that the drivepinion 40 moves the first driven rack gear 5% toward the viewer as shownin FIG. 3. This causes the first carrier element to move on the frame 26toward the opening it in the rod mill. The pinion 54 on the firstcarrier element thereby rolls along the first driving rack gear 41 onthe frame 26. Hence, by means of the shaft 52, sprocket 55, and chain56, the second driving gear 65 on the first carrier element is rotated.This, in turn, urges the second driven rack gear on the second carrierelement toward the viewer as shown in FIG. 3 and causes the secondcarrier to move relative to the first carrier element toward the mill.This movement between the first and second carrier elements causes thepinion 84 on the second carrier element to roll along the second drivingrack gear 67 on the first carrier element. Through the shaft 83,sprocket 86 and chain 88, the pinion 93 on the second carrier element isthereby displaced. Hence, the third driven rack gear 194 on therod-supporting carrier moves toward the viewer as shown in FIG. 4 andthe rod-supporting carrier thereby moves relative to the second carriertoward the mill.

This chain of motion is continued by further activation of the drivingmotor 34 until the trip element 121 on the rod-supporting carrierreaches the cam 119 on the second carrier. At that point, therod-supporting carrier has reached its maximum extended position. Sinceeach of the cariers is displaced relative to the one beneath it, thetotal longitudinal displacement of the rod-supporting carrier is equalto the sum of the relative displacements of each carrier. Thiscumulative movement should be sufiicient to advance the rod-supportingcarrierfully into the drum 11 of the rod mill in its extended positionas shown in FIG. 1b.

As noted previously, the cam 119 is positioned on the second carrier andthe trip element 121 is positioned on the rod-suporting carrier suchthat when the rod-supporting carrier is fully extended the trip elementengages the cam. Therefore, at this stage of the operation, the tripelement 121 has ridden up on the cam 119 as shown in FIG. 7. This causesrotation of the shaft 223 in a counterclockwise direction as shown inF363. 5 and 6. Consequently, the link 128 of the toggle mechanism islifted off of the stop 131 and, when the toggle passes dead-center, theweight of the rod carries the cradle member 106 into the position shownin FIG. 5. The rod 15 in the cradle therefore rolls toward the end ofthe arm 113, onto the rails 116 and 117, and drops into place within thedrum 11 of the mill. As soon as the rod clears the end of the arm 113 ofthe cradle, the counter weight 115 returns the cradle to its positionshown FIG. 6.

The main drive motor 34 is then activated in the opposite direction andthrough all of the various pinions, rack gears, sprockets and chains,each of the carriers moves relative to the one beneath it back to itsinitial retracted position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Ifdesired, automatically actuated switches may be mounted on the elementsof the apparatus to start, stop and reverse the drive motor. 7

It should be noted that theuse of sprocket and chain transmission meansbetween the carriers is not absolutely necessary in all cases. Theirfunction, of course, is to permit each carrier to be displaced anadditional distance relative to that beneath it during the operation ofthe apparatus. (if only racks and pinions are used the totaldisplacement of the rod-supporting carrier is somewhat less than whenthe sprocket chain drives are employed.) However, if the rod mill is notpositioned too far from the charging apparatus and if the drum openingis large enough to perhaps receive both the rod-supporting carrier andthe outer end of the carrier therebeneath, then it is not necessary thatthe chain drives be used to extend the reach of the apparatus.

I claim:

1. Rod mill charging apparatus comprising a frame, an elongated carrierlongitudinally displaceable on said frame, driving means for displacingsaid carrier between retracted and extended positions, a rod-supportingsection at one end of said carrier adapted to advance fully into saidmill upon displacement of said-carrier to its extended position, apivotal cradle on said rod-supporting section for supporting at leastone rod substantially longitudinally thereon, a cam mountedindependently of said rod-supporting section, a trip element positionedon said rodsupporting section to engage said cam when said carrier is inits extended position, and a linkage connecting said trip element withsaid cradle for pivoting said cradle and displacing said rod therefromwhen said trip element engages said cam.

2. Rod mill charging apparatus comprising a frame, an elongated firstcarrier longitudinally displaceable on said frame, driving means fordisplacing said first carrier between retracted and extended positions,at least one intermediate carrier longitudinally displaceable on saidfirst carrier, at rod-supporting carrier longitudinally displaceable onsaid intermediate carrier, transmission means between said carriersactuated by said driving means for displacing each of them betweenretracted and extended positions relative to the others, saidrod-supporting carseeds rier being adapted to advance fully into saidmill upon displacement of said carriers to their extended positions, apivotally mounted cradle on said rod-supporting carrier for normallysupporting a rod longitudinally thereon, a cam affixed to theintermediate carrier supporting said rod-supporting carrier, a tripelement positioned on said rod-supporting carrier to engage said camwhen said rodsupporting carrier is in its extended position, and alinkage connecting said trip element with said cradle for pivoting saidcradle and displacing said rod therefrom when said trip element engagessaid earn.

3. Rod mill charging apparatus comprising a frame, a first elongatedcarrier supported on said frame for longitudinal displacement thereon, afirst driven rack gear affixed longitudinally to said first carrier,driving means geared to said first driven rack gear for displacing saidfirst carrier between retracted and extended positions, a first drivingrack gear ailixed longitudinally to said frame, and a first rotatableshaft on said first carrier driven by sai first driving rack gear; asecond elongated carrier supported on said first carrier forlongitudinal displacement thereon, a second driven rack gear afilxedlongitudinally to said second carrier, first transmission means drivenby said first rotatable shaft and driving said second driven rack gearfor displacing said second carrier between retracted and extendedpositions, a second driving rack gear affixed longitudinally to saidfirst carrier, and a second rotatable shaft on said second carrierdriven by said second driving racr gear; an elongated rod-supportingcarrier supported on said second carrier for longitudinal displacementthereon, a third driven rack gear affixed longitudinally to saidrod-supporting carrier, second transmission means driven by said secondrotatable shaft and driving said third driven rack gear for displacingsaid rodsupporting carrier between retracted and exteded positions, saidrod-supporting carrier being adapted to advance fully into said millupon displacement of each of said carriers to their extended positions;a pivotal cradle on said rod-supporting carrier for supporting at leastone rod substantially longitudinally thereon, and cam means for pivotingsaid cradle and displacing said rod therefrom when said rod-supportingcarrier is fully within said mill.

4. Rod mill charging apparatus comprising a stationary frame, a firstset of rollers mounted on said frame, a first elongated carriersupported on said first rollers for longitudinal displacement thereon, afirst driven rack gear atfixed longitudinally to said first carrier,driving means geared to said first driven rack gear for displacing saidfirst carrier between retracted and extended positions, a first drivingrack gear affixed longitudinally to said frame, and a first rotatableshaft on said first carrier driven by said first driving rack gear; asecond set of rollers on said first carrier, a second elongated carriersupported on said second rollers for longitudinal displacement thereon,a second driven rack gear afiixed longitudinally to said second carrier,first sprocket and chain means driven by said first rotatable shaft anddriving said second driven rack gear for displacing said second carrierbetween retracted and extended positions, a second driving rack gearafifixed longitudinally to said first carrier, and a second rotatableshaft on said second carrier driven by said second driving rack gear; athird set'of rollers on said second carrier, an elongated rodsupportingcarrier supported on said third rollers for longitudinal displacementthereon, a third driven rack gear afiixed longitudinally to saidrod-supporting carrier, second sprocket and chain means driven by saidsecond rotatable shaft and driving said third driven rack gear fordisplacing said rod-supporting carrier between retracted and extendedpositions, said rod-supporting carrier being adapted to advance fullyinto said mill upon displacement of each of said carriers to theirextended positions; a pivotally mounted cradle on said rod-supportingcarrier for normally supporting a rod longitudinally thereon, a camatfixed to said second carrier, a trip elemeat positioned on saidrod-supporting carrier to engage said cam when said rod-supportingcarrier is in its extended position, and a linkage connecting said tripelement with said cradle for pivoting said cradle and displacing saidrod therefrom when said trip engages said cam.

West Oct. 10, 1905 Klein May 2, 1939 10 Gan-ow Nov. 5, 1946 Garland Feb.9, 1954 Kendall Aug. 26, 1958 Young July 14, 1959 Minter Aug. 18, 1959Walters Jan. 19, 1960 Krebs Sept. 27, 1960 Bendot July 26, 1961 BevardOct. 30, 1962

1. ROD MILL CHARGING APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME, AN ELONGATED CARRIERLONGITUDINALLY DISPLACEABLE ON SAID FRAME, DRIVING MEANS FOR DISPLACINGSAID CARRIER BETWEEN RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITIONS, A ROD-SUPPORTINGSECTION AT ONE END OF SAID CARRIER ADAPTED TO ADVANCE FULLY INTO SAIDMILL UPON DISPLACEMENT OF SAID CARRIER TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION, APIVOTAL CRADLE ON SAID ROD-SUPPORTING SECTION FOR SUPPORTING AT LEASTONE ROD SUBSTANTIALLY LONGITUDINALLY THEREON, A CAM MOUNTEDINDEPENDENTLY OF SAID ROD-SUPPORTING SECTION, A TRIP ELEMENT POSITIONEDON SAID RODSUPPORTING SECTION TO ENGAGE SAID CAM WHEN SAID CARRIER IS INITS EXTENDED POSITION AND A LINKAGE CONNECTING SAID TRIP ELEMENT WITHSAID CRADLE FOR PIVOTING SAID CRADLE AND DISPLACING SAID ROD THEREFROMWHEN SAID TRIP ELEMENT ENGAGES SAID CAM.